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India Min Defers Pakistan, Iran Trips To Discuss Gas Pipeline

Indian Oil Minister Murli Deora has deferred a visit to Pakistan and Iran to discuss the proposed natural gas pipeline between the three countries, Pakistani government officials said Thursday.
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Πεμ, 7 Φεβρουαρίου 2008 - 03:01
Indian Oil Minister Murli Deora has deferred a visit to Pakistan and Iran to discuss the proposed natural gas pipeline between the three countries, Pakistani government officials said Thursday.

India and Pakistan have yet to resolve bilateral issues for the $7.4-billion project to transport gas from Iran.

"The Indian petroleum minister has indicated that he would soon visit Pakistan, but they (India) have not given any dates," Pakistan Petroleum Minister Ahsan Ullah Khan told Dow Jones Newswires.

Deora on Wednesday said he was invited to visit Pakistan this week but he couldn't make the trip, without elaborating. News agency Press Trust of India reported that Deora had postponed the visit to wait until the Pakistan elections, scheduled for Feb. 18, were over.

"Both Iran and India want to see election results in Pakistan before signing anything and they are cautious before that," a Pakistan official said.

Although Iran has almost finalized a deal with Pakistan, it has twice deferred signing the sale purchase agreement with Islamabad, as it wants India to be part of the project and the initial agreements.

Sources in the Pakistan government say Iran expects bigger political and economic benefits from the project if India joins the pipeline.

The Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline, originally suggested almost a decade ago, has been facing delays on pricing of gas and more recently due to disagreements between India and Pakistan over transit fees.

With no clarity on his Pakistan visit, Deora is also unlikely to visit Tehran on Feb. 12-13 to discuss the pipeline, a Pakistan government official said.

"I may visit both Pakistan and Iran in the near future," Deora said Wednesday.
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